Hermann’s glorious debut ton for Proteas equals ODI record

Opener Jordan Hermann smashed 150 off just 126 balls in the first ODI against Namibia, equalling the record for the highest score on ODI debut as South Africa secured a 99-run victory.

Hermann’s blistering knock included a whopping seventeen fours and three sixes as the Proteas debutant matched the record set by his teammate Matthew Breetzke last year, who also scored 150 on his ODI debut.

Hermann was thrilled to play a major role in South Africa's victory.

"It's incredibly special," Hermann said. 

"I've been taught my whole life that you don't just get a hundred, you try to push it further and further. I think that was also what the conditions were asking, so not just get a hundred but push on a bit.

"I didn't want to give Namibia a sniff because they're a good team and they'd get leverage to work with (if I got out). I was trying to kill all sense of any bad patches of play that they can capitalise on. (I'm) chuffed that I could do that and get us in a winning position."

Hermann, who made his T20I debut earlier this year, earned his first ODI cap in the series opener against Namibia in Windhoek, kickstarting the innings for the visitors alongside Connor Esterhuizen.

After South Africa lost an early wicket, Hermann and the experienced Tony de Zorzi took the attack to the Namibian bowlers, putting together a mammoth 190-run stand off just 167 balls.

Hermann brought up his half-century off 61 balls before shifting through the gears in a spectacular fashion, reaching his next fifty in just 32 balls to bring up a memorable maiden century.

He continued his assault, racing from 100 to 150 in just 32 balls to become only the second batter to score 150 on ODI debut. However, his record-equalling innings came to an end on the very next ball when Ruben Trumpelmann claimed the prized wicket.

Alongside Hermann’s mammoth knock, Tony de Zorzi produced an excellent 72, while useful contributions from Dewald Brevis (33) and Corbin Bosch (39) helped South Africa post a formidable 348.

Namibia made a steady start as openers Malan Kruger and Alexander Volschenk put together a 51-run partnership. Kwena Maphaka then provided the breakthrough, picking up two wickets, while Prenelan Subrayen also struck to reduce Namibia to 68/3.

It started pouring as the innings reached the 22nd over, causing a lengthy interruption. When play resumed, Namibia’s target was revised to 301 runs from 38 overs.

Play resumed with Corbin Bosch dismissing Lourens Steenkamp, but another bout of rain soon brought play to a halt. The revised target underwent another adjustment, with Namibia now required to score 262 runs in 31 overs to win.

After play restarted, Prenelan Subrayen struck in the very first over, producing a brilliant caught-and-bowled dismissal to remove Gerhard Erasmus. Reduced to 100/5, Namibia were unable to mount a serious charge. Some lower-order resistance helped them reach 162/8, but the target remained well out of reach as South Africa secured a 99-run victory.

Malan Kruger (34) and JJ Smit (31) were the top scorers for Namibia, while Prenelan Subrayen starred with the ball for South Africa, finishing with impressive figures of 4/29. Kwena Maphaka chipped in with 2/32, while Duan Jansen and Corbin Bosch claimed a wicket each.

South Africa and Namibia are competing in a three-match ODI series, which offers vital preparation for two of the three co-hosts of next year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Series schedule:

First ODI: South Africa won by 99 runs (DLS method)
Second ODI: September 11, Windhoek
Third ODI: September 13, Windhoek